Login

Languages

Search form

Case Study

The iKNOW Politics Team welcomes you to our Library! We have the strong commitment of making available, for free, relevant resources and publications related to the political empowerment of women and support women politicians, practitioners, academics, experts, and the general public alike. Currently we have more than 107 different resources, searchable below by keyword, type of resource and thematic. Interested in region or country-specific resources? Please visit our homepage and use our word map! Please send us your feedback and to connect@iknowpolitics.org. We hope you will enjoy the iKNOW Politics online library!

Women are more politically mobilized than ever before — but that’s not enough to get them into office. A POLITICO investigation reveals what’s really stopping women from breaking through.
One morning this spring, 80 women of different ages, parties and backgrounds gathered in a hotel ballroom in Ames, Iowa, to learn how to run for office. They poured themselves coffee, nodded to their neighbors and listened to experts explain the relative merits of radio ads vs. billboards. Six months earlier, many would not have imagined spending a Friday this way. But then came the 2016 election.
Monic... Read more

Women are more politically mobilized than ever before — but that’s not enough to get them into office. A POLITICO investigation reveals what’s really stopping women from breaking through.
One morning this spring, 80 women of different ages, parties...

Obsession with female politicians’ appearance in the media is putting young women off going into politics, a study has revealed, prompting campaigners to call for an end to sexism in political media coverage.
41 per cent of girls aged between nine and 16 think there has been a rise in media sexism in the last six months, while 39 per cent said this has knocked their confidence, according to the new research by Girlguiding, the UK’s leading charity for girls and women.
The charity has launched a campaign encouraging all young women to vote, but has voiced concern that the continual... Read more

Obsession with female politicians’ appearance in the media is putting young women off going into politics, a study has revealed, prompting campaigners to call for an end to sexism in political media coverage.
41 per cent of girls aged between nine...

LAS VEGAS — Cheaper tampons. Office breaks to pump breast milk. No co-pay on birth control.
These are not the talking points of a ladies’ happy hour. They are among the State Senate and Assembly bills being considered in the Nevada Legislature. Not only were the bills designed solely with women in mind, they each were sponsored by a female lawmaker.
At 39.7 percent, Nevada now ranks near the top for women’s representation in state politics, second only to Vermont. The bills women are bringing to the State Senate floor this session range from the annual ranking of companies by how fairly they... Read more

LAS VEGAS — Cheaper tampons. Office breaks to pump breast milk. No co-pay on birth control.
These are not the talking points of a ladies’ happy hour. They are among the State Senate and Assembly bills being considered in the Nevada Legislature. Not...

After Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in June 2016—the first woman in American history nominated for president by a major political party—she tweeted a picture of her dancing with a young girl. The caption read, "To every little girl who dreams big: Yes, you can be anything you want—even president. Tonight is for you."
It's widely assumed that female politicians serve as role models to other women and girls, inspiring them to become politically engaged. Research on the subject, however, has produced mixed results on the actual extent of this effect.
In... Read more

After Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in June 2016—the first woman in American history nominated for president by a major political party—she tweeted a picture of her dancing with a young girl. The caption...

The UK Labour Party has long utilised All-Women candidate shortlists in an aim to ensure that female representation in the House of Commons increases. This has always been controversial, however it has been responsible for a noted increase in the number of female MPs in general and female Labour MPs in particular. Here, Mary Nugent and Mona Lena Krook dispel some of the myths around All-Women Shortlists, and show that gender quotas do not pose a threat to ‘merit’, and that the diversity they have fostered has brought about a number of important democratic outcomes.
Diversifying leadership... Read more

The UK Labour Party has long utilised All-Women candidate shortlists in an aim to ensure that female representation in the House of Commons increases. This has always been controversial, however it has been responsible for a noted increase in the...

Complete our survey in Arabic, English, French, or Spanish.
Dear members,
As part of an external evaluation of iKNOW Politics aimed at better understanding the impact of our work and thinking about how we might improve ourselves in the future, we are asking all our members and platform users to complete the attached survey.
It will only take a few minutes of your time, and will help us learn how we can serve you better. Your responses will be confidential.
Please complete the survey by following the link in the language of your choice. If you have any questions about the survey,... Read more

Complete our survey in Arabic, English, French, or Spanish.
Dear members,
As part of an external evaluation of iKNOW Politics aimed at better understanding the impact of our work and thinking about how we might improve ourselves in the future,...

The impact of economic resources on the political participation of women has become a prominent issue in the field of comparative political finance.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that politics dominated by money is, more often than not, politics dominated by men. It is not surprising that the issue has moved to the forefront of debates on gender and political finance.
This report assesses the extent to which political finance is a significant obstacle to women running for political office. It focuses on the experience of Colombia, a country that, like many other Latin... Read more

The impact of economic resources on the political participation of women has become a prominent issue in the field of comparative political finance.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that politics dominated by money is, more...

50:50 Parliament launched #AskHerToStand, a campaign to address the overwhelming gender imbalance in Parliament by encouraging everyone to ask talented and inspirational women to stand as Parliamentary candidates.
50:50 Parliament is working with The Parliament Project, who can offer more support, advice and training at their fabulous workshops. If you’d like to attend a workshop, contact the Parliament Project at help@parliamentproject.com.
Click here for more details. Read more

50:50 Parliament launched #AskHerToStand, a campaign to address the overwhelming gender imbalance in Parliament by encouraging everyone to ask talented and inspirational women to stand as Parliamentary candidates.
50:50 Parliament is working with ...

Polls show that Georgians would like to see more women in their parliament. Currently, women make up 12 percent of the Georgian legislature, behind the average of 25.8 percent for European countries and placing Georgia at 147 of 194 countries worldwide in women’s political representation. The infographic analysis reveals current numbers on women's participation as candidates in Georgia's October 8 parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Source: NDI Read more

Polls show that Georgians would like to see more women in their parliament. Currently, women make up 12 percent of the Georgian legislature, behind the average of 25.8 percent for European countries and placing Georgia at 147 of 194 countries...

This annual study provides a snapshot of the gaps in men and women’s access to economic security, personal security, education, health, and positions of leadership in Canada’s largest 25 metropolitan areas. It measures these gaps in a given community in order to capture inequalities that can be attributed, at least in part, to discrimination based on gender; it also serves as a reminder that, with the right choices and policies, these gaps can be closed.
According to this year's ranking, Victoria is the best city to be a woman (for the second year in a row), while big gaps in employment and... Read more

This annual study provides a snapshot of the gaps in men and women’s access to economic security, personal security, education, health, and positions of leadership in Canada’s largest 25 metropolitan areas. It measures these gaps in a given...

CDRSEE organized four seminars in Thessaloniki that joined Members of Parliament from Southeast Europe, Western Europe and the European Parliament, as well as numerous professionals, economists, and journalists to discuss issues of concern for the region. Four topics were focussed on in the seminars: the working of parliamentary democracy, the relationship between politics and the media, the working of a free market economy, and the organisation of political parties. The participants of the conferences all recognised and noted the importance of reconciliation in the region, and the vitality... Read more

CDRSEE organized four seminars in Thessaloniki that joined Members of Parliament from Southeast Europe, Western Europe and the European Parliament, as well as numerous professionals, economists, and journalists to discuss issues of concern for the...

Since 2013, the Australian Futures Projects have worked with the major political parties and leading educational institutions to create Australia’s first and only Leadership Program for Parliamentarians. It builds the capability of parliamentarians along three streams:
The Person: Motivations, strengths, and pathways to grow as a leader.
The Role: Effective approaches to governing in a 21st Century democracy.
The Context: The complex and rapidly changing world around us.
The Leadership Program for Parliamentarians has been developed in collaboration with La Trobe University and Trinity... Read more

Since 2013, the Australian Futures Projects have worked with the major political parties and leading educational institutions to create Australia’s first and only Leadership Program for Parliamentarians. It builds the capability of parliamentarians...

Strengthening women’s rights and addressing barriers to political participation are critical to achieving gender equality and female empowerment. USAID is supporting women around the world by:
Providing training for female members of political parties and parliaments and supporting the development of women’s caucuses
Providing skill building and leadership training for women civil society members, women’s organizations, and female journalists
Supporting women’s participation in political and post-conflict transitions
Improving women’s access to justice and increasing women’s participation... Read more

Strengthening women’s rights and addressing barriers to political participation are critical to achieving gender equality and female empowerment. USAID is supporting women around the world by:
Providing training for female members of political...

This research study was conducted by the Somali Institute for Development and Research Analysis (SIDRA) in partnership with UNDP Somalia. SIDRA Institute is a knowledge-policy interface established to fill the strategic gaps of shaping and dialoguing a wide range of policy agendas and in generating and communicating relevant research findings to policy actors in Somalia. The study aimed at assessing and documenting women’s political participation in Puntland, focusing on the recent political processes while drawing lessons from historical trends and broader societal issues surrounding women’s... Read more

This research study was conducted by the Somali Institute for Development and Research Analysis (SIDRA) in partnership with UNDP Somalia. SIDRA Institute is a knowledge-policy interface established to fill the strategic gaps of shaping and...

Victoria Woodhull in 1872, Margaret Chase Smith in 1964, and Shirley Chisolm in 1972 – well before Hillary, for close to a century and a half, these and many other women mounted runs for the U.S. presidency. In this book, Ellen Fitzpatrick reveals that today’s obstacles and challenges are not very different from the ones ambitious female politicians have faced all along.
In The Highest Glass Ceiling: Women’s Quest for the American Presidency, Fitzpatrick looks at how Victoria Woodhull, Margaret Chase Smith, and Shirley Chisolm challenged the gender stereotypes of their time as they pursued... Read more

Victoria Woodhull in 1872, Margaret Chase Smith in 1964, and Shirley Chisolm in 1972 – well before Hillary, for close to a century and a half, these and many other women mounted runs for the U.S. presidency. In this book, Ellen Fitzpatrick reveals...

In the context of equal rights and opportunities for women and men declared in the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, this joint publication between UNDP, UNICEF, the Alliance of Women’s Legislative Initiatives, and the PA Agency of Social Technologies, evaluates the Kyrgyz party system from a gender perspective.
National legislation and international responsibly of the Kyrgyz Republic guarantee equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men in the sphere of political involvement.To what extent the political parties ensure compliance with the guaranteed by the legislation equal... Read more

In the context of equal rights and opportunities for women and men declared in the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, this joint publication between UNDP, UNICEF, the Alliance of Women’s Legislative Initiatives, and the PA Agency of Social...

The political situation in Burundi is typical of a post-conflict country that is striving to reconcile the need to consolidate the newly restored peace and responding to the basic needs and demands of the population, while laying the required foundation for sustainable development. Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries, with a very low Human Development Index ranking (185th out of 187 countries). As a result of difficulties in access to employment and production factors, women are more affected by poverty than men. Support from the international community is subject to conditions... Read more

The political situation in Burundi is typical of a post-conflict country that is striving to reconcile the need to consolidate the newly restored peace and responding to the basic needs and demands of the population, while laying the required...

Botswana is considered a middle-income country. The country has also enjoyed a stable democracy since 1996. Botswana is committed to upholding the rule of law and affords its citizens and all people in the country ‘the protection and the enjoyment of freedoms and rights, without discrimination’ as provided for by the Constitution. The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana has become a major threat to the progress that the country has made in the area of economic and social development. Women in Botswana constitute 52 percent of the country’s population. Within this population, there are social... Read more

Botswana is considered a middle-income country. The country has also enjoyed a stable democracy since 1996. Botswana is committed to upholding the rule of law and affords its citizens and all people in the country ‘the protection and the enjoyment...

‘Women and power: Overcoming barriers to leadership and influence’ is a case study developed as a result of the project ‘Women’s Voice and Leadership in Decision-Making project’. This project run over a period of two years, from 2014 to 2016, with funding by the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and dealt with questions such as:
What enables women’s substantive voice and influence in decision-making processes?
Does women’s presence and influence in decision-making improve outcomes for other women and advance gender equality?
How can international actors better support... Read more

‘Women and power: Overcoming barriers to leadership and influence’ is a case study developed as a result of the project ‘Women’s Voice and Leadership in Decision-Making project’. This project run over a period of two years, from 2014 to 2016, with...

This Workshop Report was originally published by International IDEA here on January 11, 2016.
Women continue to be underrepresented in Bhutan politics and following the general elections in 2013 the number of women parliamentarians sank from 14 per cent to 8 per cent. No women were elected for a second term. Women continue to face a multitude of obstacles in Bhutan politics including a lack of gender sensitive laws and practices, prevailing gender norms and stereotypes combined with low levels of education disproportionately affect women. Women are even more disenfranchised in local... Read more

This Workshop Report was originally published by International IDEA here on January 11, 2016.
Women continue to be underrepresented in Bhutan politics and following the general elections in 2013 the number of women parliamentarians sank from 14...

International IDEA has identified Political Participation and Representation as one of its four key impact areas, and the strengthening of democratic governance structures to manage and accommodate diversity as a crosscutting objective of all its work. To this end, this study explores ways in which peacebuilding and democratization processes can be supported and strengthened to improve their capacity to generate greater participation by, and inclusion of, marginalized groups. Drawing on case studies from Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Philippines and Rwanda, this study highlights a variety of ways... Read more

International IDEA has identified Political Participation and Representation as one of its four key impact areas, and the strengthening of democratic governance structures to manage and accommodate diversity as a crosscutting objective of all its...

This report explores public attitudes about gender and leadership with a particular focus on leadership in U.S. politics and business. The analysis is based on two new Pew Research Center surveys. In addition to the surveys, this report draws on data from a variety of sources to document women in leadership positions in politics (national and state levels) and in business with trends over time.
According to the majority of Americans, women are every bit as capable of being good political leaders as men. The same can be said of their ability to dominate the corporate boardroom. And according... Read more

This report explores public attitudes about gender and leadership with a particular focus on leadership in U.S. politics and business. The analysis is based on two new Pew Research Center surveys. In addition to the surveys, this report draws on...

This report argues that women’s empowerment in Tunisia is largely rooted in the particular features of the elite post-independence bargain, early political choices regarding state–society relations and the associated policies in the areas of education, health and labor, which increased women’s access to resources. Tunisia’s progress in women’s empowerment provides useful lessons on how women can obtain access to new resources and on the way in which political struggles and dynamics can be used to challenge gender and social power... Read more

This report argues that women’s empowerment in Tunisia is largely rooted in the particular features of the elite post-independence bargain, early political choices regarding state–society relations and the associated policies in the areas of...

The war in Syria has started five years ago. Tens of thousands of Syrians are either dead or missing and about 50% of Syrians have had no choice but to flee their homes for the hope of a better future for their families. The humanitarian crisis in Syria is horrific. However, in the middle of all the human tragedies, women activists are working under extremely difficult conditions to build peace and reduce the effects of the violence.
“Women’s groups are working undercover, holding workshops for women against illiteracy and crafts trainings, and at the same time talking about how wrong it is... Read more

The war in Syria has started five years ago. Tens of thousands of Syrians are either dead or missing and about 50% of Syrians have had no choice but to flee their homes for the hope of a better future for their families. The humanitarian crisis in...

This study from Nepal by International IDEA identifies gender gaps and barriers which undermine women’s ability to realize their full potential in politics. It looks at both systemic barriers, particularly gender-based violence, and obstacles inherent to the electoral process. The key findings include the following:
A number of legal gaps hinder women’s equal participation in politics.
Low gender sensitivity with political parties prevents women from influencing decisions.
Women in politics in Nepal are undermined by character assassination and misogyny.
A lack of financial resources further... Read more

This study from Nepal by International IDEA identifies gender gaps and barriers which undermine women’s ability to realize their full potential in politics. It looks at both systemic barriers, particularly gender-based violence, and obstacles...

Calls for the integrity of elections urge governments and international actors to attach importance to the professionalism of electoral management bodies, the regulation of political finance and the promotion of equal participation and representation of women and marginalized groups. Measures aimed at necessary reforms most often entail not just carefully planned policy initiatives but also the political will to implement these changes. This publication looks closely at initiatives by eight countries to realize these measures. Through the lens of the unique experiences of each country,... Read more

Calls for the integrity of elections urge governments and international actors to attach importance to the professionalism of electoral management bodies, the regulation of political finance and the promotion of equal participation and...

Democracy requires the equal access and full participation of both women and men, on the basis of equality, in all areasand at all levels of public life, especially in decision-making positions. Both the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) andthe Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recommend thatgovernments adopt quotas as temporary special measures to increase the number of women in both appointive andelective positions in local and national levels of government. A review of countries that have a critical mass (30 percent)of women in their... Read more

Democracy requires the equal access and full participation of both women and men, on the basis of equality, in all areasand at all levels of public life, especially in decision-making positions. Both the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) andthe...

In the 2014 Fiji general election, 14% of elected parliamentarians were women. This percentage represents the largest proportion of women in Fiji’s parliament since independence in 1970. However, it also shows that Fiji is still a long way from parity and lags well behind the global average of 21.8% of elected parliamentarians being women (as at 1 October 2014).
Ahead of the 2014 election, IWDA and the Fiji Women’s Forum conducted research into public attitudes in Fiji towards women in leadership. Public Perceptions of Women in Leadership is the first study of its kind in Fiji exploring... Read more

In the 2014 Fiji general election, 14% of elected parliamentarians were women. This percentage represents the largest proportion of women in Fiji’s parliament since independence in 1970. However, it also shows that Fiji is still a long way from...

This case study outlines the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) efforts to take gender in electoral processes into account in its electoral legal reform consultations that took place between 2011 and 2014. The ECN completed its nation-wide consultations on the electoral legal reforms in March 2013 and since then has focused on engaging the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC) to ensure that the ECN’s proposals are included in the legislative bill(s). The LRDC has the mandate to undertake the consolidation or the codification of any branch of the law or the introduction of any... Read more

This case study outlines the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) efforts to take gender in electoral processes into account in its electoral legal reform consultations that took place between 2011 and 2014. The ECN completed its nation-wide...

A Comparative Study in Five Southeast Asian Countries: Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste:
There were at least two main reasons why a study into women’s representativeness in the parliaments in five Southeast Asian Countries needed to be done. On one hand, the female population in this region was not much different from the male counterpart. On the other hand, gender equality has yet to be achieved either culturally or structurally. This raised a question: to what extent were women represented in the political representation systems in this region? Secondly,... Read more

A Comparative Study in Five Southeast Asian Countries: Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste:
There were at least two main reasons why a study into women’s representativeness in the parliaments in five Southeast Asian...

It is generally recognized that women worldwide make substantial contributions towards politics, society and the economy in their country. In newly democratic countries in Southeast Asia the role of women in politics in particular has been extraordinary. There are many aspects to the political role that women play including political representation and in relation to this aspect alone, each countries has its own background and circumstances that provide the context for women to become involved.
This paper is divided into three parts. The first part outlines findings from existing research on... Read more

It is generally recognized that women worldwide make substantial contributions towards politics, society and the economy in their country. In newly democratic countries in Southeast Asia the role of women in politics in particular has been...

Lessons from the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste on Patriarchy and the Rise of Women’s Participation in State Politics:
The results of research carried out by the Partnership and its regional partners on Women’s Political Representation in the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor Leste, identified patriarchal constraints on women’s participation in politics. Women’s political participation is inhibited by factors including the family, the community, political parties, Parliament, Government, and the electoral process1. The struggle by women to... Read more

Lessons from the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste on Patriarchy and the Rise of Women’s Participation in State Politics:
The results of research carried out by the Partnership and its regional partners on Women’s Political...

Today, gender equality and justice have become global issues. Achieving these goals requires wide support not only from governments, but also from international organizations in different parts of the world.In Asia, women’s participation and representation is an issue that is much discussed and examined by students, researchers and policy makers. It is interesting to analyze how women (of different ages and from diverse backgrounds such as different ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, religions and nationalities) strive for women’s participation and representation in politics and for... Read more

Today, gender equality and justice have become global issues. Achieving these goals requires wide support not only from governments, but also from international organizations in different parts of the world.In Asia, women’s participation and...

Prepared and presented by Basma Soudani Belhadj (President and founder of League of Tunisian Women Voters LET) and Najla Abbes (board member and co-founder of LET): An overview of women's political participation after the 2011 revolution in Tunisia. Read more

Prepared and presented by Basma Soudani Belhadj (President and founder of League of Tunisian Women Voters LET) and Najla Abbes (board member and co-founder of LET): An overview of women's political participation after the 2011 revolution in...

Slovenia is a Central-East European state entering the European Union as a kind of "success story‟. It‟s transition into the free market economy was one of the most unproblematic, with no shock therapies, with steady growth and stable economic indicators: GDP per head was in 1992 6.2751and in 2001 9805 USD for example, GDP per capita in PPS was 64 in 1996 and 70 in 2002, the unemployment rate is decreasing (7.2 in 1996 and 6.0 in 2002), and relatively similar by gender (5.7, for males 6.4 for females). Read more

Slovenia is a Central-East European state entering the European Union as a kind of "success story‟. It‟s transition into the free market economy was one of the most unproblematic, with no shock therapies, with steady growth and stable economic...

This publication identifies hurdles preventing marginalized people from taking active part in customary and democratic decision-making. It highlights strategies for managing transition from political exclusion to inclusion and identifies lessons that could be adopted by marginalized groups.
Drawing on experience from 38 case studies, the publication describes how different marginalized groups have worked to overcome barriers to their participation in political decision-making.
Read more

This publication identifies hurdles preventing marginalized people from taking active part in customary and democratic decision-making. It highlights strategies for managing transition from political exclusion to inclusion and identifies lessons...

In December 2010, the Tunisian people ignited a process of change that has impacted upon all of North Africa. A Constituent Assembly was elected in October 2011, which had as its main mission to elaborate the country’s and the region’s first truly democratic constitution. One of the Assembly’s first acts was to draft and approve its rules of procedure (or by-laws), which are designed to organize the constitutional drafting process, as well as the ordinary legislative process.
This publication is the first in a series that International IDEA will be publishing on constitutional developments... Read more

In December 2010, the Tunisian people ignited a process of change that has impacted upon all of North Africa. A Constituent Assembly was elected in October 2011, which had as its main mission to elaborate the country’s and the region’s first truly...

Journeys from Exclusion to Inclusion: Marginalized Women’s Successes in Overcoming Political Exclusion identifies critical factors preventing marginalized women’s inclusion in customary and democratic decision-making structures and describes how women have worked in overcoming barriers to their participation.
The report’s ten case studies gather knowledge and practical experience from around the world, drawing upon reform efforts to identify ways in which women can impact on political processes through their participation in politics. The report details specific strategies marginalized women... Read more